Retire the word "VIP"; design dignity for everyone

technique — attributed to Philip Dufour

Calling some guests "VIP" tells the rest of the room they are not. Use inclusive language like "honored guest," differentiate escort cards by subtle color rather than label, and let dignity be felt rather than announced.

Dufour codifies these rules across every Dufour Collaborative event — alongside avoiding podiums when possible (they distance the speaker) and never serving preset salads (nothing makes a guest feel like a prop faster).

language, inclusion, protocol, dignity